Element for the insulation of the outer wall of a building, and process and apparatus for its manufacture

Abstract

An insulating element for use in building walls comprises two rigid slabs preferably of brick, and interposed insulating material preferably of expanded polyurethane. The interposed insulation projects out along the periphery of the slabs and is embedded in a complementary recessed part in the insulation of the adjacent element, leaving an interval between the slabs which is filled with mortar in order to unite the slabs. Adjacent elements are pressed against each other during installation in order to reciprocally compress the insulation along the separation plane. The slabs are fed continuously, on edge, in spaced relation, between superposed conveyor belts, thereby to form a tunnel into which the polyurethane is fed and fills by expansion. The slabs are then cut apart by grinding and the insulation is cut along the midline of the slot thus produced, after which the elements are packaged.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for the production of insulating elements, comprising two superposed conveyor belts adapted to hold two uninterrupted slabs of width equal to that of the elements to be produced and resting on edge on the lower conveyor belt at a spacing from each other corresponding to the thickness of the insulating elements to be produced; means to inject an expansible insulation between the slabs; pressure rollers on the outer sides of the two slabs to resist the pressure due to the expansion of the insulation between the two conveyor belts; two opposed grinders at the discharge of the two conveyor belts to grind two opposite vertical channels in said two slabs; and a cutting disk to cut the insulation along the midplane of each said channel.